OUGD504 - Studio Brief 01 - Photos vs Illustrations

One of the design consideration that was bought up in a group critique was the inclusion of photography within the publication. Although this project originated from the collection of photographs in the chosen location over the summer, in the context of the publication the images became rather redundant. As the newspaper would be distributed within the station itself, any photographs of the internal design would not serve a purpose other than to provide a visual break within the copy.

An alternative to photography would be illustration. Newspapers across the world have used cartoons for decades to communicate and add humour to political, societal and economic issues. They have become more prevalent in recent years following the actions Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly newspaper magazine infamous for it's cartoons. Through illustrations it would be possible to capture the environment of the station, and to relay it's character and atmosphere to the readers.

Looking at other ways in which imagery could be used, inspiration could be drawn from the iconic protest posters that came from the social uprisings of the 1960's, in which students and workers occupied universities and factories, protesting against capitalism, consumerism, and traditional institutional values and order. The imagery from this time has become a symbol for the revolution of protest graphics, with minimal but bold text and symbols.

Drawing on both of these inspirations will give the newspaper a further context within the social and historical movements of the city.